You don’t have much fleshy tissue there.”

“Can you check me for diseases, Doc?” Mira glared at Flint. “I was clean sexually but I know how dirty those women on those ships can be. I’ve obviously now been exposed.” The idea of Flint with pleasure-worker women was enough to make her clench her teeth.

Flint shot an angry look at her and his mouth slammed into a tight line. “Belay that. I do not have diseases, Mira.”

“Pleasure workers are loaded with diseases.”

He clenched his teeth. “I always use medicondoms and have regular exams.”

“You don’t always use condoms.”

“You are the only female I haven’t used a condom with because you are mine. You have not been exposed to sexual diseases.”

“Children,” Doc chuckled, “you might want to save this discussion for later, no matter how amusing everyone is finding it.”

Mira turned her head, suddenly reminded about all the men on Flint’s ship, seeing amusement on a few faces. She softly cursed before dropping her head. Her forehead rested on the soft med bed as she shut her eyes. She was definitely going to have a talk with Flint later.

“All done.She’s been scanned and there are no more hidden surprises. If you have her sit down and bare her upper body I’ll brand her for you.”

Flint shoved her shirt over her ass and down her thighs. She opened her eyes and sat up on the med bed while Doc walked to a cabinet. He returned with a bag. She eyed it with dread. She’d never wanted her skin marred. If she was getting tattooed to match Flint, she’d have wiggly patterns over both shoulders.

“Bare your body,” the doctor told Flint. “I’ll use the imager on you and then get to work so they are exact on her.”

Flint removed his shirt without hesitation, giving Mira a great view of his tattoos. They were thick black images on his beautiful metallic-gray skin. She glanced at her shoulder. It wouldn’t be too bad. They were just on the curve of the shoulder down the front of Flint’s chest a few inches. Then Flint turned. She hadn’t gotten a look at his back because when he’d been na**d he’d been facing her. The markings went over his shoulders and down onto his shoulder blades.

The Doc removed what looked like a tiny camera and pointed it at Flint, who slowly turned. They repeated the process on each side. The doctor nodded.

“I got it.”

“Wait,” a deep voice said loudly.

Flint tensed and spun around. Mira swallowed hard, turning her head, watching the large redheaded cyborg with the braid down to his ass approach. He walked closer, his eyes locked with Flint’s, stopping five feet from them.

“What do you want, Iron?” Flint’s voice sounded like gravel and he looked angry. “Why are you halting Doc?”

The cyborg cocked his head, studying Flint. “I will trade you for her.”

“No.”

Relief hit Mira. She didn’t want to be traded. The cyborg with the braid looked pissed. “You haven’t even heard my offer.”

“I do not wish to trade her. There is nothing that I want more than her.”

Iron took a deep breath. “I will give you the Levi . You like my shuttle so I will trade it for the human.”

“Why would you trade the Levi for her?”

Fear hit Mira hard since Flint didn’t say no immediately. Asking questions was a bad sign. She didn’t want to be given away. She didn’t want to end up belonging to the other cyborg . She liked Flint. She didn’t worry that he would hurt her or sell her to a pleasure house. He’d saved her life when he’d taken her off that shuttle because if he’d left her there she would have blown up with it.

“I find myself attracted to her and you seem to enjoy her since you look pleased. Unlike you, I am assigned to the Star for six more months. She would make my off shifts enjoyable.”

“I won’t trade her. Your offer is very generous but I want her for more than sex. I have plans for her.”

Flint said the words softly. “She is not for trade.”

Iron looked pissed. Flint tensed as they watched each other. Mira feared that they’d fight, and they looked evenly matched, both being large males, so worry ate at her. She held her breath until Flint finally spoke.

“I will give my consent to stop the Piera shuttle. They usually carry human females if you want to own one so badly.”

The other cyborg nodded and his body relaxed almost instantly. “I can live